top 10 Concerts of 2004

I haven't seen anyone post anything, so here are mine.

1) Coachella (first night), May 1st
highlights: The Pixies, Kraftwerk
2) Pixies @ the Aragon Ballroom, November 13th
3) Air @ 9:30, April 8th (1st night)
4) Social Distortion @ Nation, October 18th
5) PJ Harvey @ 9:30, October 13th (A lot of people said this wasn't great, but I was blown away by her and her band…great energy from them, lousy response from the audience)
6) Curiosa @ Merriweather, August 6th
highlights: Interpol, the Cure
7) The Shins @ Black Cat, February 11th (2nd night)
8) Bob Mould @ Birchmere, January 9th
9) Supergrass (10th anniversary) @ 9:30, Sept. 29th
10) Face to Face farewell tour @ 9:30, August 17th

First off, I tried not to include the Pixies more than a couple times, even though I saw them 7 times and they could have easily have taken up most of the top 10. Coachella for me was an incredible experience and seeing the Pixies walk out together onstage in front of 50,000 people went down in rock history as one of the 100 most important moments. I know I'm sounding dramatic there, but to see it and be there really was something. It really showed how powerful music is and I've never seen an audience so respectful and in awe. And Kraftwerk's set was just surreal. The Pixies stole a lot of thunder, but Kraftwerk were probably still the best band of the day.

Second, there were many amazing shows this year but I had to pick the ones that were the most memorable. Honorable mentions include the Peaches 9:30 gig and the Hives. The biggest disappointment was Morrissey in Chicago at the House of Blues. All in all though, 2004 was a great year for live music.

1) Pixies, Coachella night 1.
2) Beulah, Black Cat.
3) Ted Leo at the Black Cat, midsummer.
4) The Polyphonic Spree, 930.
5) The Magnetic Fields, Birchmere.
6) Circle Takes the Square, Warehouse (so much fun!)
7) Mountain Goats/John Vanderslice, Black Cat.
8) Mission of Burma, 930.
9) TV on the Radio, Beep Beep (both opening for The Faint), 930.
10) Decemberists, black cat.

Note I didn't list Wilco at 930. There's a reason for that.

Originally posted by bunnyman:
seeing the Pixies walk out together onstage in front of 50,000 people went down in rock history as one of the 100 most important moments. I know I'm sounding dramatic there, but to see it and be there really was something. It really showed how powerful music is and I've never seen an audience so respectful and in awe.

i'll second that bunnyman…

1/Coachella - Day 1 definitely bested Day 2 but they were both amazing in their own right. My highlights were: Pixies, Radiohead (in spite of Thom's laryngitis), Muse, Air, Belle&Sebastian…I only saw (heard rather, as the tent was too packed to squeeze inside) part of kraftwerk's set. biggest regret was not staying for the whole thing, especially considering we sat in dead-locked traffic for 4 HOURS after the show.
2/GBV @ Metro on NYE - I know it hasn't happened yet (and could easily end up in the #1 slot) but I'm sure this will probably end up being one of my fave shows of all time.
3/ Ween @ 9:30 - Best Ween set ever…played *let me lick your p*ssy* and a fuse-blowing cover of *ace of spades* by motorhead.
4/ My Morning Jacket @ 9:30 - i asked Jim to play *i will be there when you die* for me and he did…nice to see some bands still love their fans by honoring requests.
5/ The Fiery Furnaces @ Black Cat - i know i'll get flamed for this one seeing as there are 50 gazillion people on this board who despise this band but…they put on one of the best live performances i've seen in a long time.
6/ Muse @ 9:30 - FINALLY a headlining gig!
7/ Tortoise @ 9:30
8/ Curiosa Festival - Muse, Interpol and The Rapture…enough said.
9/ Wilco @ 9:30
10 / Three-way tie - Blonde Redhead or The Shins @ The Black Cat or Enon/El Guapo @ The Warehouse

Did i even GO to 10 shows in 2004???????


well, lets go.

1. Coachella, night 1 (Pixies, Radiohead)
2. Coachella, night 2 (Bassment Jaxx, Muse, Dizzee Rascal)
3. Muse - Electric Factory
4. Muse - 930 Club
5. Secret Machines / Helio Sequence - Ottobar
6. Stellastar* / Killers - San Diego
7. Streets / Dizzee Rascal - 930
8. Sonic Youth - 930 Club
9. Curiosa - Merriweather
10. Prince - MCI Center


there, i did it!

Hehe…my list is topped by Coachella as well. It was my first time there and seeing so many bands was a great experience.

Next, the Twilight Singers…saw them in Philly, Baltimore and Cambridge this year. The Philly show is probably the most memorable for a variety of reasons.

PJ Harvey, Muse, Interpol and The Hives at the 9:30 Club

That's all I can think of at the moment. I'll have to look over my ticket stubs when I get home.

Edit…have to add Bad Wizard to the list. I fuckin' love that band. Brant Bjork & the Bros. at the VL was a great show, too.

#1 was definitely the ASSROCKERS at the Velvet Lounge!!!

Originally posted by HerrDoktorDoom:
#1 was definitely the ASSROCKERS at the Velvet Lounge!!!

Fanboy. :p

Actually, I saw them for the first time in a while a couple weeks back when they opened for Eagles of Death Metal. Good rockin' show.

Originally posted by Random Citizen:

Originally posted by HerrDoktorDoom:
#1 was definitely the ASSROCKERS at the Velvet Lounge!!!

Fanboy. :p

Actually, I saw them for the first time in a while a couple weeks back when they opened for Eagles of Death Metal. Good rockin' show.

yeah, they're a buttload (if you'll pardon the term) of fun. We missed each other by a week, alas, I was at the show the subsequent week with Jealous Lover Targets.

I hope I remember what was from this year…

The Fall - The Ottobar
Curiosa - Merriweather
Kings of Leon - Fletchers
Ministry - Thunderdome
Acid Mothers Temple - The Ottobar
Blow Off (Bob Mould) - 9:30 Thanksgiving day
Sonic Youth - 9:30

I have to remember any show before this summer, my brain is off line…

Originally posted by joz:

5/ The Fiery Furnaces @ Black Cat - i know i'll get flamed for this one seeing as there are 50 gazillion people on this board who despise this band but…they put on one of the best live performances i've seen in a long time.

pssh, don't worry, i was at that show and i completely agree. matter of fact, i was so impressed that i saw them again at the ottobar a month later.

my top 10 non gbv shows

Unicorns, The
Black Cat - Backstage
2/1/2004

Shins, The
Black Cat
2/11/2004

Metric opening for South
9:30 Club
2/14/2004

Elefant
Velvet Lounge
2/18/2004

Decemberists, The
Black Cat
3/23/2004

Pernice Brothers w/ Long Winters
Black Cat
4/15/2004

Okkervil River w/ Shearwater
Common Grounds
5/22/2004

Mclusky
Black Cat
6/19/2004

Secret Machines
Black Cat
7/15/2004

Mountain Goats
Black Cat

and maybe Micorphones @ The Warehouse, but it was short

Decemberists - Black Cat
The Wrens - Black Cat (backstage)
Wilco - 930 Club
The Shins - Black Cat (2nd night)
Sufjan Stevens - Black Cat (even though the second opening act was a fucking self absorbed, no talent douchebag)
British Sea Power - Black Cat
Pixies - DAR (1st night)

I know that there are othere I loved but my brain hurts so not today.

How about a Top 5? In order:

1. Sondre Lerche - Iota. Best show all year, hands (or faces) down.

2. RJD2 - Sonar, Baltimore.

3. Pixies/TVotR/TIMMY!! and the Lords of the Underworld - DAR Constitution Hall.

4. Zero 7 - 9:30 club.

5. The Killers/Ambulance LTD - 9:30 club.

That's really it…I can't think of any better shows that I personally attended. Muse was good but they seemed to be just going through the motions. Bebel Gilberto gave a decent performance when she finally came on stage two hours late. Mum was okay but the soundsystem was too quiet for their subtle sounds, and I hated the crowd there (I don't care how happy you are to see your friends, shut the fuck up or pay me for every second of my time you're ruining with your banal conversation).

Originally posted by malkmess:
pssh, don't worry, i was at that show and i completely agree. matter of fact, i was so impressed that i saw them again at the ottobar a month later.

aargh…i was sick for that one. my friend had to give my tix away. i'm also pissed about missing the recent sufjan stevens show…GD family obligations on turkey day!

I cant think of ten that were that great so here is 6 (in no particular order):

Primus at DAR
The Hives/ Reigning Sound at 930
Pixies/TV on the Radio at DAR
Morrissey at Radio City Music Hall
Prince at MCI
Les Paul and his quartet doing one of their monday night shows at NYC's iridium jazz club.

shows that were only okay:
interpol at 930
john fogerty at 930

shows that sucked:
van halen at mci

1. Air @ 9:30 (the Friday show)
2. Strokes/Sounds @ The Norva
3. Stellastarr*/Killers/Ambulance Ltd @ Alley Katz
4. Pixies @ ODU
5. Broken Social Scene @ Black Cat
6. Primus @ Chrysler Hall (Norfolk)
7. Muse @ 9:30
8. Morrissey @ DAR
9. Sonic Youth @ Norva
10. Cure/Modest Mouse @ RFK Stadium

930 - Starsailor, Muse, Interpol
Others - Morrissey @ Constitution Hall

in order, from best to worst, all at 930:

1. franz ferdinand
2. keane
3. the faint
4. interpol / secret machines
5. death cab for cutie
6. the libertines / radio 4
7. the killers / ambulance ltd

i was pretty disappointed with the libertines and the killers.

polyphonic spree's two shows: one at nine thirty, and the other at kennedy center.

moe/chris robinson at pier six

cyndi lauper at pier six

ween at nine thirty, because who knows if we'll ever see them again.

dark star orchestra's three nights at the birch.

ministry: Baltimore
Pixies: DC
Slayer: DC
PJ Harvey: DC
Clutch: DC
Crystal Method: Portand, ME
David Bowie, That dump, Scranton, PA